I once quoted $1800 for a project. The client went quiet for a few moments, and I followed with “I can do it for $1000 if that helps?”
The client immediately said yes to $1000. I felt relieved. But I just told them my work wasn’t worth what I’d said.
Do you apologize for your prices, or offer to lower them?
You’re telling clients you don’t believe in your own value.
Here’s what you could do instead.
Tell them your rate. No “but” or “however”.
If there is a silence, go with it. They are evaluating value, not rejecting you. Give them time to process and respond.
Break down the value they’re getting. A 2-week turnaround. 3 rounds of revisions. A call to ensure you’re on the same page.
If they push back you can offer them options. But lead with your real price first.
“I can do a scaled-back version for $1,000 that would include X and Y, but not Z.”
Wait 10 minutes before sending any proposal. Ask yourself: “Would I respect someone who charged this?”
You don’t need permission to charge what you’re worth. Clients who respect your pricing are the ones you want to work with, anyway. More on business and life at simplystated.org.
